Moistening device



A. E. BLACK.

MolsTENlNG DEVICE.

ATION ANDREW E. BLACK, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

ivroisirENING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Feb. 1*?, 1920.

Application led August l1, 1919. Serial No. 315,077.

To all whom t may concern Be it known that I, ANDREW E. BLACK, a citizen of the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and Sta-te of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in l/Ioistening Devices, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a moistening device in a form which may be conveniently carried around in the pocket vand which is adaptable for use in sealing envelops, aiiixing stamps, etc. TWith the purpose in view of rendering such a device compact, certain in its operation, and safe against overflow of the liquid therein, the various improvements that are hereinafter described and claimed have been devised.

A structure in which the various features of this invention may be conveniently einbodied is exhibited in the accompanying drawing.

Figure 1 being a perspective view thereof with the cap applied to the non-operating end; and

Fig. 2, a longitudinal section therethrough.

According to the form shown, this device comprises a barrel 5, preferably cylindrical, and resembling in many respects the ordinary barrel of a fountain pen. At its open end the barrel is internally threaded to receive a head 6 which, when screwed in place, lies substantially7 flush and smooth relative to the body, and establishes a liquid-tight joint therewith. A cap 7 is arranged to cover the head, being held in place by friction or otherwise. Vhen not required for covering the cap it may be applied to the opposite end of the barrel, as shown in Fig. 1.

Interiorly of the head there is a bore 8 tapered by preference toward its inner end so as to coperate with a ball 9 which may move within the bore up to the point where its converging walls act as a stop. This bore by preference communicates with an enlarged chamber 10 in which is Xed a disk 11 which serves as a base for an absorbent material 12 capable of applying moisture to any desired surface in the manner of a brush. The disk 11 may be fitted-into the chamber 10 by friction means or otherwise. As shown, it is provided with a plurality of openings 13 adjacent to its periphery, and with an enlarged central opening 14:.

In the 4.operation of this device the liquid contained within the barrel may flow past the ball 9 into the chamber 10 to pass through the disk 11 so as to be absorbed into the material 1Q which, for the purposes of this invention, may be considered as a brush. As suitable materials for such a brush might suggest the use of a sponge, felt, or any other substance having the requisite absorptive properties. If the head end ofthe barrel be lowermost the ball tends to rest upon the opening 141 so as to close the passage therethrough; the liquid may therefore be required to pass only through the peripheral openings 13. In this manner those portions of the brush adjacent to its periphery are assured of a plentiful supply of liquid. When replacing the device in the pocket with the head end up the ball will seat against the converging walls of the bore 8 in the manner of a check valve so as to trap a certain amount of liquid within the head, which tends to preserve the brush in a moist condition.

It will be noted that the present device is exceedingly simple in its construction and operation. There are, of course, numerous changes that might be made, particularly in the character of the valve employed, or the shape and form of the various parts of the head, but in respect of any such changes or modications, where they utilize the principles of this invention, I desire that they be included within the scope of this patent as deiined by the claims below.

I claim:

1. In a moistening device, the combination of a barrel, a head having a liquid-tight connection therewith and provided with a passage for liquid therein, the head being removably secured to the barrel to permit replenishment of liquid therewithin, the walls of the passage within the head being tapered to provide a valve seat, a ball within the passage adapted to coperate with the valve seat to prevent passage of liquid therethrough into the barrel, a disk having a plurality of openings adjacent to its periphery, and a brush carried by the head in adjacent relation to the disk adapted to absorb liquid substantially as described.

2. In a moistening device, the combination of a barrel, a head having a liquidtight connection therewith and provided therein with a passage for liquid, an absorptive brush mounted in the head, and means for positively distributing liquid to Vdifferent points at the inner end of the brush, substantially as described.

3. In a nioistening device, the combination of a barrel, a head having a liquidtight connection therewith and provided therein with a passage for liquid, an absorptive brush carried by the head, and a disk in abutting relation to the inner end of the brush, the disk being provided with a plurality of apertures through which the liquid passes to enter the brush at different points, substantially as described.

4. In a n'ioistening device, the combination of a barrel, a chanibered head having a liquid-tight connection therewith and provided with a passage for liquid therein, the walls of the passage being tapered to provide a valve seat, an element movable within the passage to coperate with the valve seat to trap liquid Within the head chamber and an absorptive brush inounted in the head adapted to receive liquid lfrom the chamber therein, substantially as described.

5. In a Inoistening device, the combination of a barrel, a chambered head having a liquid-tight connection therewith and provided therein with a passage for liquid, a check valve in the head adapted to trap liquid within its chamber, a closure for the chamber consisting of a'disk having a plurality of apertures thereinV and with which the check valve is adapted to coperate to close certain of said openings, and a brush of absorptive material mounted in the head with its inner end adjacent the disk, substantially as described. Y

ANDREW E. BLACK. 

